INDONESIA – CHINA INTERDEPENDENCE RELATIONS IN THE ERA OF PRESIDENT JOKO WIDODO’S DURING DESPITE THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE ( 2017 – 2022 )

Abstract

Indonesia in the era of President Joko Widodo's administration had a vision of building national infrastructure with the aim of achieving national interests in the hope of driving the nation's economy and to make this happen, Indonesia really needed investment funds from China. However, China continues to expand its political and economic influence in the Southeast Asian region by claiming most of the South China Sea based on the Nine Dash Line. As a result of this, relations between Indonesia and China experienced tension and caused a sovereignty conflict due to Indonesia's territory being included in the Nine Dash Line claim. This research aims to find out the factors behind why Indonesia did not sever relations with China when a sovereignty conflict occurred. The research method used in this paper is a qualitative research method in analyzing the problems studied, using data obtained from; official state data, online media, books, articles, and news. To analyze this research, we use an understanding of the main theories, namely interdependency theory and national interest. This study shows how the national interests of Indonesia and China create a strong interdependence relationship so that relations between the two countries discontinue cooperation, even though on the other hand there is a crucial sovereignty dispute.